MASSOB, suspected thugs, police clash in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI — IT was a show of intimidation, weekend, when members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, some suspected Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thugs and the police clashed in a market square in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

It was gathered that what led to the clash was mere misunderstanding that erupted between a suspected PDP thug and member of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Izzi Line, Friday Mbam and a MASSOB member over an issue relating to a damaged GSM phone belonging to one Ikechukwu Ominyi, a MASSOB member in Izzi LGA.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, the Regional Administrator of MASSOB in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Vincent Nwamini, who stated that the incident led to a fight between members of MASSOB and some suspected PDP thugs in the area alleged that 15 of his members were attacked as two were arrested by the police while two others were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, because of the nature of the injuries they sustained.

But in a swift reaction, the state Chairman of PDP, Mr. Ogorji Ama-Oti denied the involvement of PDP members in the matter, stressing that thuggery was not part of the PDP activity in the state and warned groups or organisations to stop using the name of the party to perpetrate evil and injustice.

Nwamini alleged that the policemen who came to the scene of the incident to quell the matter decided to arrest two of his members and later went to MASSOB office in the area and carted away valuables
including, motorcycles, chairs, tables, registers, documents and Biafran flags belonging to the group.

He said: “On 8th of February 2013 some suspected political thugs belonging to PDP attacked 15 members of MASSOB in the area. Their aim is to wipe out MASSOB in Izzi local government area of the state so as to continue their evil dids.

“Accordingly, two MASSOB members were seriously wounded during the fight. They are: Shedrack Ogbonna and Ogobuchi Oko. As I’m talking with you now Ogobuchi is in a critical condition at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, where he is presently receiving treatment; two others, Shedrack Ogbonna and Simon Ofoke are in the police net

“The police who intervened in the matter later went to our regional office and carted away 15 plastic chairs, two big tables, five motorcycles all our registers and document and 15 Biafra flags.”

But the Ebonyi state police public relations officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said he was yet to be briefed on the development in the area charged members of the public to remain law abiding.